The Seattle Seahawks’ decision to sign veteran edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence last March ended up being one of the most impactful free-agent additions of the entire NFL offseason. The 33-year-old Lawrence was an instrumental part of Seattle’s Super Bowl run, serving both as a productive pass rusher and an elite run defender for the Seahawks’ top-ranked scoring defense.
ESPN’s Fowler: Seahawks likely to lose ‘a bunch’ of their FA class
Is there another Lawrence on the market this year – a veteran free agent who could make a strong impact at a reasonable price?
When asked that question Wednesday on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler mentioned nine-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Khalil Mack.
Mack has totaled 113 sacks and 36 forced fumbles over his decorated 12-year career with the Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Chargers – including a career-high 17.0 sacks in 2023. Last season, he recorded 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles 12 games with the Chargers after missing time earlier in the year with an elbow injury.
The 35-year-old Mack also is an elite run defender. He has ranked among the top 10 among edge rushers in Pro Football Focus run defense grading in each of the past three seasons.
Mack is ranked by ESPN as the No. 4 edge rusher and the No. 20 overall player in this year’s free agent class. The Athletic projects his next contract to be a one-year, $18 million deal.
“Seattle would be a great place for Khalil Mack,” Fowler said. “Mack has been doing one-year deals late in his career, but he’s still productive. Certainly he could go back to the Chargers, but I believe he’s open for business.”
An ideal fit
Mack could fill a potential area of need for the Seahawks – at least in the short term – as three of Seattle’s top four edge rushers from this past season each carry some degree of uncertainty over whether they’ll be on the roster in 2026.
Boye Mafe is set to enter free agency and may end up being too expensive for the Seahawks to re-sign. Lawrence still has two years left on his contract, but is heading into his age-34 season and reportedly has been considering retirement, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson. And Uchenna Nwosu is a potential salary cap casualty, as he’s set to carry the Seahawks’ third-largest 2026 cap hit at $19.99 million, according to Over the Cap.
“If DeMarcus is going to retire or contemplate retirement, … then that does lead to a perfect opening of getting that guy (like Mack) who shows younger players how to do it and can still be productive, but you don’t have to play him 60 snaps. It’s really the perfect scenario, like it’s been for DeMarcus. … Khalil Mack makes a lot of sense to me in that regard – a player like that.
As the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Seahawks also would be a major draw for a veteran like Mack who would like to win a championship before he retires. Mack is 0-6 in the playoffs over his career.
“I want to ultimately be a champion,” Mack said at his end-of-season news conference.
Listen to the full conversation with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler at this link or in the video at the top of this story. Tune into Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
Seattle Seahawks offseason coverage
• Brock Huard: A draft prospect who fits Seattle Seahawks’ mold
• Bump: Why Seattle Seahawks can replace free agent losses on defense
• Report: Seattle Seahawks’ Rashid Shaheed to test free agent market
• Brock: Rams’ blockbuster trade a ‘direct’ response to Seahawks
• Why Salk ‘blanched’ at a Seahawks Maxx Crosby trade proposal